Peroral application of synthetic activated charcoal in USSR

This work presents a review of the enterosorption procedure, spheres of its application, the results achieved and prospects for use in the future. This technique was developed by the author in the late 1970's and is based on peroral administration of high doses of synthetic activated carbons. This review also summarises new experimental and clinical reports by Soviet researchers who studied the use of enterosorption procedure in liver and biliary tract diseases, endogenous intoxications, acute intestinal infections, renal pathologies and immuno-dependent diseases, metabolism in aged animals, in oncologic patients, abstinence syndrome in alcohol and drug-abuse patients. The peroral application of activated carbons has been known for a long time. The most extensive list of usage of activated carbons has been presented by Adler in the first quarter of this century. The powdery activated charcoal usually was prescribed in doses of 2-10 g per day, since larger doses caused nausea, vomiting and constipation, and that demanded simultaneous usage of cathartics. The Carbon sorption therapy, soon became neglected owing to development of potent antibacterial preparations, and probably due to depleted enteric content of the components which are necessary for the organism. Later, carbon sorption therapy was investigated for use in uremia. In 1979, the author of this article proposed the use of oral administration of high doses (up to 100-150 g/day) of synthetic activated carbons with diameters 0.2-1.0 mm, derived through pyrolysis of various polymeric resins. The reasons for this approach which we termed enterosorption, were good adsorptive properties, smooth surface, strength and uniformal nature of synthetic carbon adsorbents, causing practically no symptoms of enteropathy which are typical for high doses of powdery carbons. We have described our earlier clinical results of this approach. Since that time the number of studies has substantially increased in the USSR. Accordingly, the author deemed it expedient to attempt a review of the results.